Watching last season's leading receiver and de facto No. 1 wideout Jeremy Maclin walk away during the NFL's free agency period, less than a year after watching mercurial and explosive talent DeSean Jackson do the same, had to be difficult for fans of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Philly head coach Chip Kelly brought a sea change to the Eagles this offseason, his third with the franchise. He has a plan, even if that plan is currently obfuscated by the continually against-the-grain decisions he's been making.
The receiver spot, significantly weakened by the successive losses of Maclin and Jackson and despite the additions of promising youngsters Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, has seen little in the way of attention from Kelly.
While former Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns receiver Miles Austin may not constitute a "major addition," it seems Kelly will kick the tires on the once-promising pass-catcher, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
"Free agent receiver Miles Austin is set to visit the #Eagles this week, source said. Another former #Cowboys player to Philly?," Rapoport tweeted.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old Austin spent the first seven years of his NFL career as a member of the rival Cowboys. His best seasons came in 2009 and 2010, when he amassed 81 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns and 69 receptions for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns, respectively.
He joined the Browns just prior to last season and wound up catching just 47 balls for 568 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, the Browns don't boast nearly the same caliber of quarterback play that Dallas does with Tony Romo, so Austin's down season can at least somewhat be explained away by the dual presences of the steady, if uninspiring, Brian Hoyer and the abysmally knuckleheaded Johnny Manziel.
Austin also suffered a lacerated kidney and was placed on injured reserve by Cleveland in early December, ending his season after just 12 games. Browns head coach Mike Pettine was extremely complimentary of Austin in the wake of his injury though.
"We couldn't have asked a guy to come in and be a better example for our young players while at the same time being a very productive member of our receiving corps as well," Pettine said at the time, per Pat McManamon of ESPN.
Austin isn't a burner, but he's a big, physical guy, willing to do the dirty work and mix it up in the running game. With the Eagles boasting a mostly young, unproven receiving corps beyond Riley Cooper, a guy like Austin could fit well as a moderate contributor on the field and a strong, steady presence off of it.
